Lindsey Graham, a leading pro-Israel hard-liner in Congress and one of U.S. President Donald Trump's closest confidants, died suddenly on the 11th (local time) at 71. With the death of a political heavyweight who wielded outsized influence over the Trump administration's Middle East policy and aid to Ukraine, analysts say there is a growing chance of immediate shifts in U.S. pro-Israel public sentiment and the Republican Party's foreign and security posture.
According to major media reports on the 12th (local time), Graham's office officially said on social media the previous day that "Sen. Graham died after a sudden and brief illness," and asked for privacy. Leading outlets reported that an emergency call for cardiac arrest was made from Graham's home on the night of the 11th and first responders were dispatched. Until the day before his death, on the 10th, he had visited Kyiv, Ukraine, and held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, keeping up a full diplomatic schedule until just before he died.
Graham had been seeking a fifth term ahead of the November election this year. He fiercely criticized Trump during the 2016 presidential race but later became his strongest ally and closest political confidant. President Trump revealed in a broadcast interview on the 12th that he had a call with Graham on the evening of the 11th, saying, "He was like family to me. This is really hard to bear." Trump also wrote on social media that Graham was "one of the greatest people and senators I have known," adding, "We will miss him greatly, a true patriot," and ordered flags lowered to half-staff nationwide. Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, also offered condolences, saying, "We often, and sometimes sharply, disagreed, but Graham loved the institution of the Senate."
Since being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2003, Graham exerted enormous influence over the Republican Party's foreign policy line for 23 years. He was a leading hawk who consistently advocated unhesitating military intervention in the Middle East and on the global stage. He was also known to have been deeply involved in the Trump administration's hard-line approach to Iran. At the same time, he strongly backed Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy mourned him as "a true defender of freedom," noting that "even in recent weeks, he worked on key measures to hasten peace, including powerful sanctions targeting Russia." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed sorrow, saying Graham fought for Ukraine's freedom until his final moments.
Graham's death is a key variable that could upend the pro-Israel landscape in U.S. politics. He long embraced the role of a steadfast "guardian of Israel," drawing both criticism and praise for appearing to prioritize Israel's interests over U.S. interests. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Lindsey understood that Israel's security and America's security are inseparable," adding, "Israel has lost one of its greatest friends, and America has lost a great patriot." Experts said that at a critical time for Israel, which is waging multifront battles against armed groups in Gaza and Lebanon, it is akin to losing its most reliable shield in the U.S. Congress. With the disappearance of the centripetal force that strongly pressured Iran and offered unconditional support for Israel, some predict that momentum could wane inside Congress for sweeping pro-Israel diplomatic and military support going forward.